Beijing, which set steep duties on canola, peas and pork, wants Canada and Mexico to resist U.S. pressure to raise tariffs on Chinese goods.
China announced tariffs of up to 100 percent on canola, pork and other foods from Canada on Saturday, in retaliation for Canada’s decision last August to collect steep taxes on imports of Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum.
The Chinese tariffs, which take effect on March 20, were also a clear warning to Canada — and, indirectly, Mexico — not to cooperate with the United States on trade. The Trump administration, like the Biden administration before it, has been demanding that Canada and Mexico not serve as back doors for low-cost Chinese goods to enter the U.S. market under North American free trade agreements.
China’s State Council Tariff Commission announced on Saturday that it would impose tariffs of 100 percent on canola oil, which is Canada’s largest export to China, and on peas, and 25 percent on Canadian pork and seafood. The commission said the measures were in response to Canada’s 100 percent tariffs on electric cars from China and its 25 percent tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum, which took effect in October.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a separate statement that “China urges Canada to immediately correct its wrong practices, lift restrictive measures and eliminate adverse effects.”
The Canadian government had no immediate comment.
The Chinese agencies’ statements were carefully worded to comply with World Trade Organization rules and did not mention any effort to influence Canada or Mexico during their current trade discussions with the United States. But a commentary released by China’s state television left little doubt that a key goal for China is dissuading officials in Ottawa and Mexico City from acceding to American pressure for higher Canadian and Mexican tariffs on Chinese goods.
The Chinese tariffs are “a powerful countermeasure to Canada’s wrong choice, and a strong warning to some countries that intend to impose additional tariffs on China in exchange for the United States not to impose additional tariffs on them,” China Central Television said.